Method and apparatus for making a strip conductor coil

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for making a strip conductor coil construction wherein means are provided for holding a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis and means are provided for holding a strip of conductive material. Means are provided for rotating the core element to draw the strip of conductive material around part of a guide roller means to guide the strip before the strip is wound on the rotating core element. Means are provided for automatically adjusting the position of the guide roller means relative to the core element about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the guide roller means to properly align the conductive strip relative to the core element during the winding of the strip thereon so that the strip will be wound to the outer surface means of the core element in the proper position relative thereto.

United States Patent (72] Inventors Robert B. Lightner;

Benton A. Whiteman, both of Richmond, Va. 211 Appl. No. 793,628 [22] Filed Nov. 1,1968 [23] Division of Ser. No. 598.347. Dec. 1, 1966.

abandoned. [45] Patented Aug. 3,1971 [73] Assignee Reynolds Metak Company Richmond, Va.

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A STRIP CONDUCTOR COIL 5 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 242/7.03, 242/7.06, 242/56.1, 242/76, 336/192 [51] 1nt.Cl. ..H0lb 13/00 [50] Field of Search 242/67.1, 67.3, 56.1,175, 55, 76, 7.06, 7.07, 7.14, 7.15, 7.03; 29/605. 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,653 6/1922 Kilgore 242/76X Primary ExaminerBilly S. Taylor Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs and Thompson ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus for making a strip conductor coil construction wherein means are provided for holding a core element having an outer. surface means and a longitudinal axis and means are provided for holding a strip of conductive material. Means are provided for rotating the core element to draw the strip of conductive material around part of a guide roller means to guide the strip before the strip is wound on the rotating core element. Means are provided for automatically adjusting the position of the guide roller means relative to the core element about an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the guide roller means to properly align the conductive strip relative to the core element during the winding of the strip thereon so that the strip will be wound to the outer surface means of the core element in the proper position relative thereto.

PATENTEU AUG 3191:

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FIG.8 FIGJO INVENTORS ROBERT B.LIGHTNER BENTON A.WHITEMAN a )wzw 4 THEIR ATTORNEYS PATENTED AUG BIS?! 359 SHEET 4 BF 4 INVENTORS ER LIGHTNER TO vWHITEMAN THEIR ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A STRIP CONDUCTOR COIL This application is a divisional patent'application of its copending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 598,347, filed Dec.

1, I966, now abandoned, and is assigned to the same assignee to whom the parent application is assigned.

This invention relates to an improved strip conductor coil construction or the like as well as to improved methods'and apparatus for making, the same or the-like.

It is wellknown that strip conductor coils or the likecan be made by coiling a strip of conductive material onto a substantially cylindrical hollow core element wherein the inner and outer ends of the-coiled strip ofconductive material has leads interconnected thereto so that the completed coil construe-- tion can be utilized in a suitable housing and have current flow through the conductive strip thereof when suitable electrical connections are attached to the previously described leads.

For example, such prior knownstrip conductor 'coil con-.- structions and the like, as well as a method 'andapparatus for making the same, are fully disclosed in thecopending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 497,069, filed Oct. 18, 1965, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,450, andassignedto the same assigneeto which this application is assigned.

However, it has been found according to the teachings of this invention that when such prior known apparatus is utilized for forming strip conductor coils or the like, relatively accurate and complicated means must be provided for assuring that each adjacent coil of the strip of conductive materialis positively aligned with the previously wound coils of thestrip of conductive material on the core element so that theopposed side edges of the resulting stripconductor' coil will be accurately shaped for the intended use thereof Accordingly, it is a feature of this: invention to provide improved and inexpensive means for accurately guiding such constructive strip onto the core element duringthe winding: operation so that alignment therebetween can be readily and simply adjusted.

Another feature of this inventionis to utilize such guide means for permitting the strip of conductive material to be wound. on the core element with a tapering cross-sectional configuration wherein certain of the coils of the strip of conductor material will be axially offset relative-to other coils thereof so hat the resulting strip conductor coil construction will. have a desired shape forthe intended use thereof with.

requiring subsequent machining of the coil construction as in the past. I

Thus, it is an object of this invention-to provide an improved strip conductor coil construction having one or more of the novel features set forth aboveor hereinafter shown described.

Another object of this invention is to providean improved method for making such a strip-conductor coil construction-:or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide'an improved apparatus for making such a stripcond'uctor coil construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this inventio'n'are apparent from a reading of'thisdescription which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the im proved strip conductor coilconstruction of this=inventi'on-..

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the. improved method and apparatus of this invention for making the stripconductor coil construction of-FI'G. I.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustratingythe. leads attached by the apparatus of FIG. 2 tothe conductive strip for forming the coil construction ofFlG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side. view of. theap-- paratus of FIG. 2 and is taken substantially on line t -4' of FIG. 2 to illustrate the guide roller means of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary,- cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7-14 are respectively side views similar to FIG. 6 of the taping head arrangement and operation of the apparatus of F IG. 2'.

FIG. is an axial cross-sectional view of another strip conductor coil construction of this invention.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention for utilizing the guide roller means for providing the tapering coil construction of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. l8-is a view similar to FIG. 17 and illustrates the guide roller means in another operating position thereof.

While thevarious features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a strip conductor coil construction or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or'in any combination thereof to provide other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a strip conductor coil construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and includes a hollow and substantially cylindrical core element 21 having a strip 22 of conductivematerial wound thereon in a manner hereinafter describe, the strip 22 of conductive material having an inner end 23 and an outer end 24 respectively secured to transverse inner and outer leads 25 and 26- in a-manner hereinafter described whereby electrical current or the like is adapted to pass through the conductive strip 22 throughout the length thereof when a source of electrical current is interconnected to leads 25 and 26 in a conventional manner.

Ifdesired', he strip of conductive material 22 can be wound on he core element 21 in the manner hereinafter described so that a separate strip of insulating materialis'wound in unison therewith on the core element 21 so that the strip of insulating material is interleaved between adjacent coils of the strip of conductive material 22 to electrically insulate adjacent coils of the strip of conductor material 22 from each other. Alternatel'y, theunder side of the strip of conductive material 22 canbe prelaminated to an insulative strip or coating of insulatingmateriali before the same is wound on the core element 2f in the manner hereinafter described to provide the aforementioned insulation means between adjacent coils of the strip of conductive material'22.

The-method and apparatus of this invention for formingthe stripconductor coil constructions 20 of FIG; 1 in a substantially continuous manner is generally indicated by the reference numeral 27 in FIGS. 2.--l4 and will now be described.

Asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the apparatus 27 includes a frame structure 28 rotatablycarrying a supply roll 29' of conductivestrip-material 22'. As previously'stated, the material 22" can'beprovidedwith a strip-or: coating 30'of insulating material'lainihated to one sid'e 3l thereof as illustrated in FIG. 3 in such a manner'that' theopposedsideedges 32"and 33of the insu'lating material 30 extend outwardly of the opposed side edges wand of thestrip of conductive material'22 so as to preventfshort circuiting between adjacent coils of the strip'of conductive material 22 atrthe side edges 34 and 35 thereof whenthe-strip=material22 is woundonthe-core element 21" in the manner'illustratedinFIG. lan'dhereinafter described.

Alternately, the apparatus 27"ca'n carry the aforementioned separate stri'pof'insulating material 30in a separate supply roll thereoftobe interleaved bet-ween'adjacentcoils of the strip of conductive material 22' during the coil winding operation hereinafter described rather than be prelaminated to the. conductive strip 22-as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The hollow core elements 21 can comprise cardboard or the like and are adapted to be serially fed to a station 36 of the apparatus 27 by a suitable hopper means 37 whereby a mandrel means 38 is adapted to be indexed by a rotatable table 39 to the station 36 and be telescopically extended within the core element 21 at the station 36 upon actuation of a piston and cylinder arrangement means 40. After the mandrel means 38 has been received in the core element 21 at the station 36, the mandrel means 38 is retracted at station 36 to carry the particular telescoped core element 21 therewith whereby subsequent indexing of the table 39 carries that particular core carrying mandrel means 38 to a station 41 of the apparatus 27, When the core carrying mandrel means 38 is disposed at the station 41, the piston and cylinder arrangement 4 thereof is actuated to extending the core carrying mandrel means 38 radially outwardly to interconnect the mandrel means 38 to a drive shaft 42 of the apparatus 27 so that when the drive shaft 42 is rotated in a manner hereinafter described, the mandrel means 38 and its core element 21 will rotate in unison therewith to produce the strip conductor coil construction 20 of this invention in a manner hereinafter described.

After a particular strip conductor coil construction 20 has been formed on the mandrel means 38 at the station 41, the mandrel means 38 at the station 41 is retracted by the respective piston and cylinder arrangement 40 so that subsequent indexing of the table 39 carries the respective mandrel means 38 to an ejecting station 43 whereby suitable stripping apparatus 44 will strip the completed strip conductor coil construction 20 from the mandrel means 38 at the station 43 to be deposited in a supply chute 45 for subsequent testing, packaging and storing operations or the like.

When the completed strip conductor coil construction 20 has been stripped from the mandrel means 38 at the station 43, it can be seen that the particular mandrel means 38 can then be indexed back to the station 36 to again pick up another core element 21 to be subsequently carried to the station 41 to have another strip conductor coil construction formed thereon in a manner now to be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, the strip means 22 is adapted to be fed from the supply roll 29 mounted on a shaft means 46 around slack reducing and tension applying roller means 47 and improved guide roller means 48 of this invention to pass through cooperating die means 49 and 50 which when operated will cold weld a pair of leads 26 and 25 to the strip of conductive material 22 in side-by-side relation as illustrated in FIG. 3 while forming perforated separation line means 51 therebetween for a purpose hereinafter described.

The forward or leading end 23 of he strip of material 22 is normally positioned on a table means 52 of the apparatus 27 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 and is held thereto by pressure means 53 during the time that a core-carrying mandrel means 38 is being indexed to he station 41 and is being interconnected to the drive shaft 42 as illustrated in FIG. 2 so that the core element 21 will be disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 for subsequent counterclockwise rotation thereof.

A first tape applying head 54 is adapted to draw a strip of pressure sensitive tape means 55 from a supply roll 56 thereof and have the forward or leading end 57 thereof disposed against the leading end 23 at the strip of material 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 when the head'54 is pivoted relative to the apparatus 27 about a pivot point 58. Since the tape strip 55 has a pressure sensitive adhesive means on the side thereof which engages the end 23 of the strip of material 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, the leading end 57 of the tape means 55 is now secured to the strip of conductive material 22 so that when the taping head 54 is moved from right to left in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9, the adhesive side of the tape means 55 will be disposed against and secured to the core element 2! in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9.

After the tape means 55 has its pressure sensitive side curbed to the core element 21 in the manner illustrated in fig. 9, a suitable knife means 59 is adapted to sever the tape 55 from he head 54in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9 so that the taping head 54 can be pivoted upwardly away from the ore element 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG. l0.

In this manner, a sufficient length of the tape means 55 has been fed from the taping head 54 so that the inner end 23 of the strip of conductive material 22 is now interconnected to the core element 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10. Thus,

subsequent rotation of the mandrel means 38 at the station 41 by the drive shaft 42 causes the core element 21 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and draw the strip of conductive material 22 onto the core element 21 to be coiled thereon in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11, the pressure means 53 having been raised to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 to permit such winding operation.

However, during the core winding operation, suitable mechanism stops the winding operation at a predetermined time to permit the die means 49 and 50 to cooperate together and cold weld a set of leads 26 and 25 transversely across the strip 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 and define the separation line means 51 therebetween.

Subsequently, the attached set of leads 26 and 25 are drawn from between the cold-welding die apparatus 49 and 50 to the position illustrated in FIG. 11 whereby the pressure member 53 is moved downwardly to hold the portion of the strip 22 carrying the lead 25 against the table 52 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 11. Thus, further rotation of the core element 21 in a counterclockwise direction now causes the strip of material 22 to separate at the separation line means 51 between the leads 26 and 25 so that the lead 26 and now severed end 24 of the strip 22 can be wound on the core element 21 to complete the strip conductor coil construction 20 of this invention while the leading end 23 of the strip 22 and its attached lead 25 are being held at the table 52 by the pressure means 53 to subsequently form the inner part of another strip conductor coil construction 20.

As the core element 21 is being rotated in a counterclockwise direction at the station 41 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12, a second taping head 61 has been so positioned relative thereto that the taping head 61 applies the leading end 62 of another pressure sensitive tape means 63 from a supply roll 64 thereof against the outer coil of the coil construction 20 so that further rotation of the core element 21 in a counterclockwise direction causes the tape means 63 to be drawn thereon and completely around the coil construction 20 in he manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 14 to fully hold the outer coil end 24 of the strip 22 to its adjacent inner coil to prevent unwinding thereof.

After the second tape means 63 has been applied completely around the coil construction 20 as illustrated or around a part thereof sufficient to hold the end 24 of the strip 22 to an adjacent inner coil of the strip 22, suitable knife means 65 cuts the applied tape 63 from the head 61 so that the strip conductor coil construction 20 is now completed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 14 and can be retracted by the mandrel means 38 at the station 41 to be subsequently indexed by the table 39 to the station 43 in the manner previously described.

Thus, as the completed coil construction 20 is being indexed to the station 43 to be injected into the chute 45, another mandrel means 38 is carrying a core element 21 from the station 36 to the station 41 to have the strip 22 coiled thereon in the manner previously described whereby the apparatus 27 of this invention is adapted to substantiate continuously from strip conductor coils 20 in the manner previously described.

For further details of the structure and operation of the apparatus and method 27 previously described reference should be made to the aforementioned copending patent application.

However, it has been previously stated that during such coil winding operation, it has been found according to the teachings of this invention that some means must be provided for accurately guiding the strip of conductive material 22 from the supply roll 29 thereof onto the core element 21 so that the coils of conductive material 22 will be properly aligned relative to each other on the core element 21 as well as relative to the core element 21 for the particular use of the coil construction 20 and/or for the particular housing means to receive the completed strip conductor coil construction 20.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the coils of the conductive material 22 on the core element 21 define substantially straight and parallel opposed sides 66 and 67 of the coil construction 20 either being coplanar with the opposed sides 68 and 69 of the core element 21 or offset inboard or outboard thereof as desired.

In order to permit such accuracy during the coil-winding operation previously described, the improved guide roller means 48 has been provided and will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide roller means 48 includes a substantially cylindrical roller 70 rotatably mounted to a frame member 71 by shaft means 72, the frame member 71, in turn, being rotatably mounted to a frame member 73 by pin means 74 disposed at right angles relative to he shaft means 72 of the roller 70. The frame means 73 is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the main frame means 28 of the apparatus 27 by a threaded fastening member 75 passing substantially horizontally through an elongated slot means 78 formed in a vertically disposed flange 76 of the frame means 73, the member 75 being disposed at a right angle relativeto the axis defined by the pin means 74 of the frame 73. Once the rotational position of the roller means 70 about the horizontal axis of the threaded member 75 has been determined, a locknut 77 or the like carried by the fastening means 75 tightly fastens the frame means 73 to the main frame means 28 to hold the roller means 70 in the desired position about the threaded fastening member 75.

In this manner, the adjusting means 75, 77 permits adjusting of the guide roller 70 about a horizontal axis while the vertical axis of the roller 70 is adapted to be adjustedby adjusting the frame member 71 relative to the frame member 73 on the pin means 74.

In particular, the flange means 76 of the frame member 73 can carry a bracket 78 in cantilevered fashion with the bracket 78 rotatably carrying a threaded adjusting member 79 having its threaded portion threadedly received in a threaded bore 80 formed in the frame member 71. In this manner, rotation of the adjusting member 79 in the proper direction will cause the frame member 71 to pivot relative to the frame member 73 about the pivot pins 74 to adjust the roller 70 about a vertical line passing through the pivot pins 74.

Accordingly, it can be seen that by more simple adjustment of he adjusting means 75 and 79, that the vertical and horizontal axes of he roller 70 relative to the apparatus 27 can be preset so as to properly guide the strip 22 onto the core element 21 whereby the adjacent coils of the strip of conductive material 22 or the core element .21 will be properly aligned relative to each other and to the core element 21 for the intended use of the resulting coil construction 20.

It has also been previously described that a feature of this invention is to permit the guide roller means 48 to'permit the strip conductor coil construction 20 of this invention to be wound with a tapering cross-sectional configuration whereby certain of the coils of the coil strip of conductive material are axially offset relative to the other coils thereof.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 15 wherein another strip conductor coil construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A and parts thereof similar to the coil construction 20 previously described and indicated by the like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A."

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the strip of conductive material 22A has been coiled upon the core element 21A in such a manner that the opposed side edges 66A and 67A are-arcuately disposed relative to the flat parallel side edges 68A and69A of the core element 21 with the'side edges 66A and 67A each defining a cross-sectional arc'having a radius identical to the radius of the cross-sectional arcdefining theother side edge thereof. In this manner, the coil construction 20A can have the side edges 66A and 67A thereof so constructed andarranged that the overall resulting tapering configuration of the coil construction 20A will properly'fit the housing means or the like adapted to receive the particular coil construction 20A without requiring the coil construction 20 of FIG. 15 as in the past whereby the considerable waste of material and skilled labor costs have been eliminated by this invention.

One method and apparatus of this invention for forming the tapering cross-sectional configuration as illustrated in FIG. 15 comprises a guide roller means 48A illustrated inFlGS. 17 nd 7 18 adapted to be utilized with the apparatus'2-7 of F IG. 2 in place of the guide roller means 48' previously described whereby the entire operation of themodified apparatus 27 utilizing the guide roller means 48A of this will be substantially identical to the operation of the apparatus 27 previously described.

In particular, the guide roller means 48A of FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 is substantially identical to the guide roller means 48 and includes a substantially cylindrical guide roller 95 mounted for rotation on a frame member 81 by shaft means 82. The frame member 81 is, in turn, mounted for rotation relative to another frame member 83 by pivot pin means 84.

The frame member 8.; has a flange means 84 adjustably mounted to he main frame means 28A of the apparatus 27 previously described by a threaded fastening member 85 and locknut 86 in the same manner as the flange means 76 of the frame member 73 of the guide roller means 48 whereby the guide roller can be adjusted about the horizontal axis of the member in the manner previously described. a

The frame member 83 carries an electrical timer motor 87 or the like in the manner illustrated in FIG. 16 to drive an eccentric or cam 88 about its rotation point 89, the outer peripheral surface 90 of the eccentric 88 being disposed against aroller 91 carried by the frame member 81. In order to maintain the roller 91 of the frame member 81 into continuous engagement with the outer periphery 90 of the eccentric 88, a suitable tension spring 92 is provided and has one end 93 interconnected to the frame member 81 and the other end 94 thereof interconnected to the frame member 83.

In this manner, the timer motor 87 can be so constructed and arranged that during the winding of the strip of conductive material 22A onto the core element 21A in the manner previously described, the eccentric 88 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about the point 89 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 to continuously guide the strip 22A to the right during the winding operation so that the coils of the conductor strip 22 being formed on the core element 21 are continuously being moved to the right to produce the coil construction 20A illustrated in FiG. 15, the cam 88 progressively turning the roller 88 about the vertical axis passing through the pin means 84.

In this manner, the coils of the strip of conductive material 22 are respectively offset relative to the coils beneath the same to the desired amount depending upon the configuration of the cam or eccentric 38 pivoting the frame member 81 relative to the frame member 83 during the coil winding operation.

For example, by merely changing the cam member 88 to anothercam member 88 having an outer periphery 90 of a different configuration, the strip of conductive material 22 can becoiled on the core element 21A in an automatic manner to produce a cross-sectional configuration having many different steps, arcs or the like therein as desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides improved strip conductor coil constructions or the like, but also this invention provides improved methods and apparatus formaking such strip conductor coil constructions or the like.

Further, it can be seen that the guide roller means of this invention is adapted tonot only accurately control the winding of the conductor strip onto the core element to produce such coil constructions or the like, but also the guide roller means of-this invention can be utilized to automatically provide a coil construction having a desired cross-sectional configuration.

While the form of the invention nowpreferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for making a strip conductor coil construction or the like comprising means for holding a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis, means for holding a strip of conductive material, guide roller means hav ing a longitudinal axis of rotation, means for rotating said core element to draw said strip of conductive material around part of said guide roller means to guide said strip before said strip is wound on said rotating core element, means for automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means relative to said core element about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of rotation to properly align said strip relative to said core element during the winding of said strip thereon so that said strip will be wound on said outer surface means of said core element in the proper position relative thereto, and said means for automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means comprising cam means rotatable independently of the rotation of said roller means and disposed in engagement with said roller means to adjust said guide roller means about the substantially perpendicular axis.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis of said roller means is disposed substantially horizontally.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a motor drives said cam means.

4. Apparatus for making a strip conductor coil construction or the like comprising means for holding a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis, means for holding a strip of conductive material, guide roller means, means for rotating said core element to draw said strip of conductive material around part of said guide roller means to guide said strip before said strip is wound on said rotating core element, and rotatable cam means rotatable independently of the rotation of said guide roller means for automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means relative to said core element during the winding of said strip thereon to properly align said strip relative to said core element so that said strip will be wound on said outer surface means of said core element in the proper position relative thereto.

5. A method for making a strip conductor coil construction or the like comprising the steps of providing a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis, providing a strip of conductive material, providing a guide roller means, drawing said strip of conductive material around part of said guide roller means to guide said strip, winding said guided strip onto said core element by rotating said core element, and automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means relative to said core element to properly align said strip relative to said core element during said winding with rotatable cam means that is rotatable independently of the rotation of said guide roller means so that said strip will be wound on said outer surface means of said core element in the proper position relative thereto. 

1. Apparatus for making a strip conductor coil construction or the like comprising means for holding a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis, means for holding a strip of conductive material, guide roller means having a longitudinal axis of rotation, means for rotating said core element to draw said strip of conductive material around part of said guide roller means to guide said strip before said strip is wound on said rotating core element, means for automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means relative to said core element about an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of rotation to properly align said strip relative to said core element during the winding of said strip thereon so that said strip will be wound on said outer surface means of said core element in the proper position relaTive thereto, and said means for automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means comprising cam means rotatable independently of the rotation of said roller means and disposed in engagement with said roller means to adjust said guide roller means about the substantially perpendicular axis.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis of said roller means is disposed substantially horizontally.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a motor drives said cam means.
 4. Apparatus for making a strip conductor coil construction or the like comprising means for holding a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis, means for holding a strip of conductive material, guide roller means, means for rotating said core element to draw said strip of conductive material around part of said guide roller means to guide said strip before said strip is wound on said rotating core element, and rotatable cam means rotatable independently of the rotation of said guide roller means for automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means relative to said core element during the winding of said strip thereon to properly align said strip relative to said core element so that said strip will be wound on said outer surface means of said core element in the proper position relative thereto.
 5. A method for making a strip conductor coil construction or the like comprising the steps of providing a core element having an outer surface means and a longitudinal axis, providing a strip of conductive material, providing a guide roller means, drawing said strip of conductive material around part of said guide roller means to guide said strip, winding said guided strip onto said core element by rotating said core element, and automatically adjusting the position of said guide roller means relative to said core element to properly align said strip relative to said core element during said winding with rotatable cam means that is rotatable independently of the rotation of said guide roller means so that said strip will be wound on said outer surface means of said core element in the proper position relative thereto. 